A pint at the Covenant

[Thufir]

Through the circular door, past the bar, and down the swirling, twirling stairs of the Covenant, Thufir sat by himself with a cup of Matze, and his 6 string lute.
Smiling to himself, contently, he played a quiet, colourful melody to himself. And on occasion, paused to take one more sip from the cup beside him.
The sun was setting outside, and heavy rainclouds approached - driving many people inside shortly.
Slowly but surely, he felt himself too tempted, not to sing the words of his own song - it reflected his mood too much.
And I, owe it alllll, To this Fallll. Yes I, owe ittt allll, To thiis Fall.
And I, just want you to understand - that it feels like home.

And so continued the warm, serene song.
From a half-breed Bard, who once had to steal for his supper - but now had enough wealth from his own talent.

[Orisis]

"Nice tune, outlander," red eyes regarded the bard with interest when he had finished singing, " Foreign, no doubt, but still welcome."

The dunmeri was garbed in Imperial style clothing, and hospitality papers could be seen poking out of a fold in his modest robes.

"Sometimes, a bit of change is good, no?" The dunmer grinned, flashing white teeth," That is what Hlaalu & Helseth believe, in any case. But enough of my thoughts. What brings you to this inhospitable Telvanni town, ministrel?"

[Thufir]

Blinking in pleasant suprise, Thu looked up to be greeted by a native - presumably.
"Now then." He said with a modest nod of the head.
Examining the Dunmer closely, he couldnt help but pick out the imperialist attire. Not that it was a bad thing, but the usual Dark elves he came across had favoured the Netch leather, and Bonemold - which Thu planned to buy, with quiet admiration.
"Change is...Change." Replied Thu, with a smirk. With that, he rested the guitar against the edge of the table, and poured himself some more Mazte.
"However, Hlaalu arent as stable as they let out to believe. All this change will have....unforseen consequences." Predicted the Telvanni Oathman, with a neutral tone.
"This town? Well, I had a chore here, but now that I'm finished, I'm here for the night.
Wa' Bout' you then?" He asked in the rather mixed tongue he always bore.

The tongue of ellision and manners. Quite contradictory.

[Orisis]

The dunmer listened politely, his expression only changing subtly when the bard commented on the instability of his house.
"I see," the dunmeri replied cordially, taking a seat opposite of the bard without any prior consent," A chore, was it? Well, I wouldn't want to get in your way too much, though if you really want to know what I approached you for, I have a little pamphlet for you right here," he dug around in his robes and produced a small peice of paper.

'Era of change for Helseth
King Helseth Hlaalu, residing in Mournhold, is pleased to announce that he will be holding a public meeting in Balmora in three days from now where residents across Vvardenfel may travel to speak with him.
Anyone who wishes to meet him in person is to meet him in the Hlaalu Council Halls located in Balmora - the largest bastion of Hlaalu power here in the island of Morrowind.'

The dark elf smiled.

"You looked like a travelling sort," he shrugged," so I thought this may interest you."

[Thufir]

Thufir's face immediatly drained from its friendliness, and maintened a very blank, analysing stare. Telvanni and Hlaalu werent openly at war, or against each other.
But the tools of the emperor werent exactly trustworthy, these days.
Swigging down his Matze and pouring himself another one, Thu nodded to himself in indecision. "Am I supposed to believe, you came here just to invite people to some meeting?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Wouldnt an envoy be sent to the Telvanni council chambers anyway? Or is this some informal matter?"

There was no hostility or anger in his words. Just complete suspicion and distrust.
Picking up his lute once more, Thu began playing a soft, flowing tune, looking down at his strings, and carefully positioning his fingers.

[Orisis]

"Informal, I trust," the Hlaalu retainer's manner suddenly became more guarded," I wasn't aware that you were Telvanni yourself, outlander."

He failed to say anything more on the matter, and looked somewhat miffened by the new information recieved from the bard, and didn't bother him anymore as he played.

[Thufir]

"Dont call me outlander" He muttered, softly.
The flowing tune slowed to a more solemn melody, and Thufir finally looked up from the strings. "So. I take it your here on some sort of....errand. Yes?" He asked, rather rhetorically.

"Pilfering possessions? information? Its like the Camonna Tong for politics."
Again, his voice was blank, and barely showing hostility, all that could be picked out was the remarks.

[Orisis]

"Telvanni certainly have a more colourful sense of humour than I last recall," the Dunmer said dryly, raising an eyebrow at the comment," Although it has been quite some time since I have actually met an ou-. Excuse me. A foreign retainer for Telvanni who wasn't a muscled brute of a guard. I came here for purely diplomatic purposes. I plan on visiting the council chambers in Sadrith Mora after a small stop here in Tel Aruhn myself, but I suppose that's more than enough information for somebody of your... position."

The Dunmer sipped on a glass of Cyrodilic brandy, his manner & dress making it painfully obvious he was very much enjoying the Imperial influence on Morrowind.

[Thufir]

"Not the Telvanni in general. Just me." Commented Thufir with a dryness to match his companion. "Not all foreigners are witless mage-fodder. And if you plan on visiting the chambers, then I would be obliged to escort you there, dear elf." A small smirk slipped onto Thu's face as he looked the Dunmer from top to bottom once more.

"You know what I dont understand about you?" He asked rhetorically and with genuine concern. "The emperor smuthers culture, and bans all native religion and text. And yet I see a Hlaalu agent, who has clearly disregarded all of his heritage, and now embraces the Imperial race more than ever. Why? There are Dunmer who would love to hold your head aloft." Thufir explained, before downing his cup in one, and in turn refilling it.

[Orisis]

"All this, coming from an outlander?" the Dunmeri's poise became strained," even if your Telvanni lord mages decided to burn me to crisp, the encroachment of your people's culture is unavoidable, especially after that outlander Nerevarine. Unlike those Telvanni which you have foolishly joined, Hlaalu are more interested for the good of all, rather than, well, conducting overfunded experiments and throwing energy balls around."

The drink lay, forgotten, on a table as the Dunmer spewed out his words.

"But, I digress," he said slowly," I graciously accept your invitation, and I trust you'll keep me safe from any that would wish me dead."

[Thufir]

Thufir's stare began to take a more meaningful leer now. "The good of us all? According to whom? The emperor? his mouths?
What about the Ashlanders? What about the Redoran?
Will you accept all of your scriptures and literature being censored and burnt?
As an outlander, I maybe supporting the most immoral house of Morrowind. They support slavery, quarell amongst themselves and unleash all sorts of pathetic problems onto the people around them. But, what terrible things have your house caused?" Thufir asked with raised eyebrow, and firm hand on a plain cotter cup.

[Orisis]

"You have your sources greviously mistaken," the Dunmer growled," the Empire has never stopped the spread of our culture, it merely assimilated it into that of the Empire, which would've been better than an all out war between our nations. Also, it is not the Empire which had removed our scriptures, but, Almsivi forbid, the Temple, who shielded our eyes from the truth. Was it not the Empire that brought the Nerevarine? "

"I sound like a preacher, don't I?" the Dunmer said after a pause, which he used to drink," but nonetheless, it is true. My house has done nothing to trim the wings of Morrowind, and as Telvanni, I doubt you'd care less."

[Thufir]

((Is it me, or have i been misunderstanding Morrowind politics....))

"It was indeed the Empire who brought the Nerevarine." Thufir nodded with embittered defeat. "And you do sound like a preacher, yes. However, dont stereotype me as the rest of that rabble. I may have my attitudes and values in line with them, but I'm not so indifferent to the rest of the world." Spat the Bard, who stood, picking up his lute and sliding it behind his back.
"Right, I guess you'll be wanting to speak with the brass then wont you?" He asked with a gesture to the stairs, and exit.

[Orisis]

[[ No idea. But the Telvanni are mainly just out of it all. I think both the Empire & the Temple were trying to suppress certain things, but the temple moreso. ]]

"Rabble?" The dunmeri seemed geniunely amused by that adjective to describe the Telvanni," well, yes. I suppose so. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that they've stayed together as a house after all this time. As for me, I'll be leaving, as you desire it, but I may leave this note here with you. When you present it, tell them that you were invited by yours truly, Revern Iesendar"

With a small grin, turned to leave, but paused after a few steps, as if he had forgotten something.

"Oh, wait," he cast a look over his shoulder," Could you also make sure that your, well, superiors are also informed of this? I have some pressing matters to attend to later, and I believe that this certain tidbit of information might interest them, even if they aren't avid followers of politics."

[Thufir]

Thufir gritted his teeth at the name. Revern Iesendar.
And with a serene look, muttered his last words with a raised eyebrow. "Walk on, Nwah."
He finally sat back down and poured himself another cup of Matze, which was starting to have an effect on him. Modestly.
"I shall tell the council of this...occurence, and I shall note your name for future reference.
Good hunting." He finally concluded, almost warmly.

The warmth was brought about by his coming exit.